age '

The University of Kansas had an elective physical education program. The
catalog stated that the student to qualify for his baccalaureate degree should
take 124 hours, 4 hours of which may be in physical exercise. Naturally, the boy
who was timid, who had not played a lot, cial Whe tusd aint Gevelened kis body
through rigorous exercises, combative sports and games, would very likely elect
4 hours of additional academic work instead of the much needed work to build a
strong body in growing youth.

fhe trainer of race horses and racing animals of all kinds exercises the
young animal daily from its earliest beginning. Seven-eighths of the returned
circulation of blood to the heart is through muscular exercise. Vitality, Vigor
and resistance to disease is developed through regular physical exercise.

‘What e@ metamorphosis has taken place in the physical fitness of youth of
our United States since Decenber 7, 1941! When the terrible news of Pearl Harbor
was flashed over the radio, America stood bemumbed and aghast for practically two
weeks not realizing the infemy and treachery of the Japenese. When she did recoil,
men of all ages rushed to the colors ‘ent a feverish organization in our country
was started to make America fit in every possible way. Colleges hestily instituted
compylsory physical conditioning for their boys and ¢irls. Obstacle courses
sprang up over the hillsides of Americen colleges over the weekeend. And the
ambitious aim of every liberty loving boy was to get in fit physical condition
as soon as possible.

The University of Kansas began to recruit outstanding men in physical
education to carry on the very important work the government was asking of her
educational institutions. Our government made a contract with our University
to handle physical conditioning and swimeing, with life saving and all its

‘attendant activities.